DOMINION ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 29 September 1926, Page 4

DOMINION ITEMS.

*2* , tBY TELEGRAPn—PEK PP.ESS ASSOCIATION'.] ( COLLEGE ENQUIRY. J AUCKLAND, Sept. 28. The inquiry in regard to serious allega- ’ tions in connection with the Setldon - Memorial College adjourned from Sept. Utli., was resumed to-day before Mr Salmon, S.M., Commissioner. Mr L. . I’. Leary represented the Director of the College; J. J. Park and It. T. Towle for the Board of Management and L. T. Findlay for G. Lang, formerly engineering instructor to the College. Mr Findlay said the point was raised whether the college was being conducted on a proper basis. The petitioners would allege tlier was a lack of discipline and control, that Park introduced teachers and displaced Others; that teachers had followed Park from Wanganui Technical College; that in same eases they were signally deficient in the subjects they were put on to teach. For instance the "swimming class was put under a mail who could not swim. Mr Findlay detailed allegations concerning the qualities of other teachers. BUTTER IN STORE. INVERCARGILL, Sept. 27. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Farmers’ Dairy Federation, the president, Mr John Fisher, a late member of tho Dairy Control Board, referring to a statement cabled from London Inst week that a million boxes of New Zealand .butter were held in cold storage in Britain, characterised it as an outrageous lie. The total reservations made for the purposes of marketing did not average 10. G per cent. The imputation was that the Control Board had something to do with the hold-up. Until the first day of this month the hoard had absolutely nothing to-do with the marketing of produce. All it did was to regulate shipping in New Zealand. The cablegram emanated from an interested source, and he ventured to sav that if it succoded in the end it had in view, to weakefl the stand of the producer, and the right people bought (a hundred thousand boxes, the prices would jump. The million boxes in . cold store would disappear, and a cablegram would arrive to say that L New Zealand butter was sold out. ' FINE HOME DESTROYED. ' GISBORNE, Sept. 27. ' A spectacular blaze occurred this ‘ afternoon, tho residence of Air Waiter - Barker, a wooden dwelling of twenty I rooms, situated on Wimtaupoko , Heights, being totally destroyed. Ail attempt was made to save some . of the valuable contents ol the house, 1 hut the rapidity with which the flames I sprerid uindo efforts at salvage useless. - Very soon the heat from the leaping - flames made it impossible for anyone ? to approach tho burning building. Tho . fire was burning fiercely before tho . brigade arrived, and Lhe house was already doomed. Air ’and Mrs Barker were offered sympathy on all hands upon tneir I heavy hiss. Their home was regarded as one of the most beautiful in Gis- , borne .and the furnishings included ; expensive objects of art from many corners of the globe, the sentimental interest of which was inestimable. The ’ dwelling land contents were insured with the Eagle Star and British Dominions Co. for the sum ol £0335. All ' Barker’s loss will be considerably above . this amount. > UXEAI PI.OY-M ENT. AUCKLAND. September 28. 'lhe unemployment position in Auckt land is still serious. This is according to statements made at a meeting ol the Unemployment Committee. The .Mayor. Air G. Baihlon, presided. The i meeting was the first convened since t August 23. , .Mr \v. Slaughter, of the Labour Doi pnrtmcnt, reported that a oominuiiiciil lion had been received from the Alin--5 is ter of Labour to toe elloet that the . situation was still considered to he l acute. Mr Slaughter said that the , present position was a little cliflcicnt from that existing when the Commit- , ten v.as constituted. The lists hud cou- ' 1.:,in,>4 mi average of 600 names of men seeking work and the M omen s Bureau ~ bud iilm, Aid a consistent number of j applicants. i Mr Oakley Browne said that it was time that some system was lormulated [ and presented to the Government. lhe relief scheme should he one which would he applicable every winter. Afr W. AVallaee said that the onus of evolving a scheme was on the Government.. lie did not think a duty was discharged by giving an unemployed mail food and a hod. it was only a “ dole ” in another form. Mr E. -J. Phelan declared that 25. per cent of the immigrants were medically unfit. New Zealanders, he said, were looking for work, while thc-se new arrivals in tho country were unemployed. There were widows and single women out of work, while married women with employed husbands were working. 1 1 ’was decided that the committee should meet next Monday to consider suggestions for submission to the Government. It was alse resolved to request the .Minister of Labour not to dispense with tho services of a number of the employees at the State Sawmill at Mamalcu who are now under notice to cease work. WRONG TOTE TICKET. AUCKLAND. September 28. Svdney Spruggs, aged 2/.-was at the Avondale 'Jockey Club’s meeting at Elierslie on Saturday. Me went to the pay-out window at the tote on the outside portion of the course to collect, hut instead of getting paid out on Tanadees, he got arrested. As a sequel he appeared at the Police Court this morning lie lore Air Hunt, S.AL. charged with attempting to obtain £2 5s (id with intent to defraud by presenting for payment a valueless totalisator ticket, well knowing it to be | false. He pleaded not guilty. I A pay-out clerk said that, about 2.50

on Saturday, just after the fourth race had been decided, the accused 1 came to the window and presented a ticket that had been altered. It was not the correct ticket- for Tauadees, which was No. 5 and, which finished .second in the fourth rate. The ticket was of a different colour and was for No. 5 in the second race,' the words “2 Race 2” having been erased. Witness requested the accused to wait while he saw the manager of the totalisator. In a statement made from the dock, tho accused told Mr Hunt, S.AL, that he had been discussing the prospects of various horses with a Alaori in front of the tote, before the race. As the tote was about to close, and the Maori was in the lane leading to the window of the tote house, Spraggs said lie gave the Alaori 10s to put on No. 5, which was Tauadees. He saw the Alaori buy two tickets, one of which witness received. He could not say whether the Alaori had given him one of the tickets which witness say hint buy. Witness said he thought the ticket was quite all right, and he presented it at the pay-out window. “i’ll have to convict you,” said Afr Hunt. “If you had told the same story to the manager of the totalisator when lie saw you. I might have given you the benefit of the doubt. You will he lined £1 and costs Cl.”